The European Space Agency’s ambitious 12-year project to put a lander on a moving comet has been successful!
The operation to launch the lander, Philae, started last night at 00:00 GMT (12 AM PST) after getting its fourth and final go ahead to proceed.
I am ready for #CometLanding pic.twitter.com/5CSx6ZGA0p
— ESA Rosetta Mission (@ESA_Rosetta) November 12, 2014
And now, my little buddy @Philae2014 is GO for separation and #comelanding 🙂 pic.twitter.com/nvltoAKkbU
— ESA Rosetta Mission (@ESA_Rosetta) November 12, 2014
For a few agonizing minutes the Rosetta Orbiter and the Philae lander were out of contact until finally confirmation of a successful separation between the two was confirmed.
We are now in separation window, expecting signal confirming that @Philae2014 has departed @ESA_Rosetta #CometLanding
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) November 12, 2014
SEPARATION CONFIRMED #SEP ESA confirms @Philae2014 Lander has separated from @ESA_Rosetta. Lander now enroute to #CometLanding
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) November 12, 2014
After the separation, the Philae Lander took a photograph of the Rosetta Orbiter, and the Rosetta Orbiter did the same for Philae.
Then began the descent, which took a terrifying seven hours to complete. The lander successfully and surprisingly gently hit the comet’s surface at 16:03 GMT (8:03 AM PST).
RECEIPT OF SIGNAL FROM SURFACE European Space Agency receiving signals from @Philae2014 on surface of comet #67P/CG #cometlanding
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) November 12, 2014
Touchdown! My new address: 67P! #CometLanding
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 12, 2014
The team who put their all into the project were extremely elated to see the lander made it.
ESA operations tweeted out this photo taken from the lander during its arduous descent:
Not all went without a hitch: the harpoons which were meant to secure the lander to the comet did not fire. According to ESA Operations, the lander is in great shape and the team is looking at re-fire options.
More analysis of @Philae2014 telemetry indicates harpoons did not fire as 1st thought. Lander in gr8 shape. Team looking at refire options
— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) November 12, 2014
I’m on the surface but my harpoons did not fire. My team is hard at work now trying to determine why. #CometLanding
— Philae Lander (@Philae2014) November 12, 2014
History has been made with this extraordinary event and we’re looking forward to the knowledge Philae’s data will bring us. A hearty congratulations to the ESA and the team who worked so incredibly hard to make this dream a reality.
